Horse euthanized, jockeys hurt after "horrendous" accident in Florida
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - A pair of longtime horse racing pros said the accident at Gulfstream Park on Saturday that sent three jockeys and two horses to the dirt was one of the worst they've ever seen.
CBS Miami reports that it was the 11th Race at Gulfstream, and it began like any other.
But as the horses prepared for the home stretch, the race announcer described what happened.
"Oh, a spill, there. It's a bad spill, too," the announcer said. "Three jockeys are down here."
Ron Anderson has been representing top jockeys since the early 70s.
He represents Joel Rosario, a former Kentucky Derby winner, who was riding the horse Kandoo when the accident happened.
"There were bodies and horses going every direction," Anderson said.
The video shows the horse in front of Kandoo clipped the horse in front of it.
The jockey in red, Rafael Hernandez, went down. Then Kandoo went down and Rosario tumbled to the turf.
Rosario suffered a broken wrist and his helmet likely prevented a more serious injury.
"The helmet was split in two," Anderson said. "In theory, this could have been much worse."
Hernandez is another decorated rider, winning the Queensplate in Canada last year.
His agent said he suffered a broken collarbone, broken ribs and serious internal injuries.
A third jockey, Edgardo Zayas, also got thrown when his horse couldn't get out of the way of the accident.
"When he tried to jump, he was just too close to the other horse and it didn't give him time to jump," Zayas said.
Zayas suffered a sprained ankle but knows his friend Hernandez took the brunt of the injuries.
"I see Raffy and he could barely move," Zayas said. "I was really lucky."
Zayas said he understands the dangers in the business of horse racing.
"I wish that those things never happen, you know they're just animals but it always happens and it's always gonna be happening in this business," he said.
Doctors euthanized Kandoo after the race. Kandoo's trainer told CBS Miami by phone that it's like losing a member of the family.
"It's emotional," said Ralph Nicks. "It was a very unfortunate accident. It looked like a NASCAR wreck."
For Anderson, it was tough to watch.
"I honestly don't remember the last time I saw an accident, an incident this horrendous," he said.
Zayas, the jockey that CBS Miami spoke with, said that despite his sprained ankle he expects to be back out here racing on Wednesday.
The other two jockeys who were injured will be undergoing surgeries in the coming days and hope to return to the track after a month or maybe longer.